This WWW Virtual Library: International Affairs
Resources is a frequently updated Internet directory of
over 2000 annotated links to high-quality English-language
sources of information and analysis in a wide range of
international affairs, international relations,
international studies, global studies, and global
education topics. These sites are carefully selected for
their long-term value, favoring those with cost-free,
authoritative information and analysis online. Each
website is described only in general terms because of the
typically rapid changes in details of its contents and
features.

Some
Principal Organizations and Sources

• African Union-- The
international organization for all African countries,
with information about the AU and its member
countries.

• Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
(APEC)-- "The premier forum for facilitating
economic growth, cooperation, trade and investment in
the Asia-Pacific region." Information about APEC, the
international economics and trade of the region,
latest news, official statements, agreements, and
more. Hundreds of free publications for download.

• Group
of 8 Information Centre-- From the G8 Research
Group at the University of Toronto, "G7/G8 background
information, all documentation arising from G7 summit
meetings, available documentation from G7 ministerial
and other meetings," and "scholarly articles and
bibliographies about the G7 process."

• Group
of 20 Information Centre-- From the G20 Research
Group at the University of Toronto, G20 background
information, documentation arising from G20 summit
meetings, available documentation from G20 ministerial
and other meetings, and scholarly articles and
bibliographies about the G20 process.

• Inter-American Development Bank--
The IDB finances economic and social development
studies and projects in Latin America and the
Caribbean and posts plentiful and excellent online
news, analysis, and development reports about the
region.

• International Atomic Energy Agency--
Independent international organization related to the
United Nations system, with the mission of working
with "Member States and multiple partners worldwide to
promote safe, secure and peaceful nuclear
technologies." Posts much information and analysis on
"nuclear knowledge and information resources,
including associated legal and official
documentation... scientific and technical documents,
websites and databases."

• International Energy Agency--
"Intergovernmental organisation which acts as energy
policy advisor to 28 member countries in their effort
to ensure reliable, affordable and clean energy for
their citizens." Posts statistics and much analysis of
global and country energy issues.

• International Finance Cooporation--
Part of the World Bank Group, IFC is "the largest
multilateral source of loan and equity financing for
private sector projects in the developing world," with
special interest in sustainable private sector
development. The site posts many papers and reports on
global and regional aspects of sustainable private
sector development.

• International Labour Organization--
Much information about international labor standards
and conditions. Note the following databases-- NATLEX: Database of national
laws on labor, social security, and related human
rights; NORMLEX: Database of
International Labour Standards and National Laws; and
LABORSTA:
Labour Statistics Database operated by the ILO Bureau
of Statistics. Labordoc has "references to a
wide range of print and electronic publications,
including journal articles, from countries around the
world, on all aspects of work and sustainable
livelihoods, and the work-related aspects of economic
and social development and human rights."

• North Atlantic Treaty Organization--
NATO is attempting to participate in the development
of cooperative security structures for the whole of
Europe. This site has a complete archive of all
official documents and both general and specific NATO
publications. Note the NATO Review magazine. The
NATO
Defense College posts publications and studies
on topics related to the alliance.

• Organization
for Economic Cooperation and Development-- The international organization of the
industrialized, market-economy countries, to exchange
information and harmonize policy to maximize economic
growth within member countries and assist non-member
countries to develop more rapidly. OECD
Data is posted online. The Publishing
section is a good place to start searching for
publications, as are the Library and
the Working
Papers Series. OECD resources focusing on a
particular country (OECD member or not) can be found
in the Countries section. The
very useful yearly OECD
Factbook is "an essential tool providing a
global overview of world economic, social and
environmental trends." An
interactive Statistics eXplorer feature
allows Factbook time-series data manipulation
on a world map and a scatter plot screen. Read the
online version of the OECD
Observer magazine for a topical approach to the
latest interests of OECD research.

• Organization for Security and
Co-operation in Europe-- Publications and
newsletters are available from this international
organization, which is "the largest regional security
organization in the world with 56 participating States
from Europe, Central Asia and North America. It is
active in early warning, conflict prevention, crisis
management and post-conflict rehabilitation."

• World
Bank Group-- A huge number of online
publications are available here. The Open
Knowledge Repository serves to "increase access
to information at the World Bank and to make its
research as widely available as possible." Good access
points for economic research reports online are Publications,
Research and Outlook, and Documents and Reports.
Publications and databases are available on the Data
page. The Atlas
of Global Development presents data clearly with
maps, graphs, and analysis. Also see the data and
analysis available at the Countries page. The Topics page presents country and
regional data on many variables. Gender focuses on projects,
programs, publications, policy, news, and events
concerning women's issues. The JOLIS
Library Catalog allows you to search the joint
library holdings of the World Bank Group and the
International Monetary Fund, the publications of these
organizations, and related resources. Many additional
annotated World bank links are found near the bottom
of the
International Development page of this Virtual
Library.

• World Trade Organization-- The
only global body dealing with the rules of trade among
nations, whose agreements are the legal ground-rules
for international commerce and for trade policy. Large
amount of online resources for a range of users, from
the general public to students, academics, and trade
specialists. Note the Documents and Resources page for
statistics, research, publications and other services
of the WTO, the International Trade and Market
Access Data page, and the WTO Documents page for
searchable access to all online official WTO
documents.